Toy and the like



Dec. 24, 1929. c. R. WILLIAMS TOY AND THE LIKE Original F'ilzd July 21, 1925 lllllll r m-Z-mmm NVENTOR Dec. 24, 1929. c. R. WILLIAMS 1,740,884

TOY AND THE LIKE Original Filed July 21, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR Patented Dec. 24, 1929 mama-y CLINTON R. VILLIAMS, 0F NEW YURK, N. Y.

TOY AND THE LIKE Application filed July 21, 1925, Serial My invention relates generally to toys and has reference more particularly to that type in which figures in the form of persons or animals are employed. In many cases in said type of toy, the figures are borne upon a vehicle which is drawn or towed over the ground, and in some instances the figures are stationary, while in others they are movable and perform va ions acts, but in all instances heretofore, whether fixed or given certain actions, the figures do not change, or seem to change, their appearance, so that the same figure is seen always with the same dress or costume and to that extent the toy soon becomes monotonous to the user who may weary somewhat of seeing the same familiar figure so constantly. The chief object of my present improvements is to effect a change in the appearance of the figures used on the toys, the change being produced at intervals which may be varied in length of time by virtue of the particular construction of the mechanism which actuates the device in effecting the change. The important advantage of this result is that the figures are changed in their appearance during the operation of the toy and the user is not only amused and diverted by such change, but there is present the greater element of interest or charm in what may appeal to one as magic or legerdeinain, since upon looking at the toy at one moment, the figure has a certain appearance in dress or character, while in glancing at it a moment later, a figure or" different appearance is seen in place and stead of the one first observed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a figure-bearing toy with figures of different species, for example the figure of a person and that of a dog, which have relative movement, whereby they are caused to assume different relative positions, changing from a side-by-side position to a different one and back again and such movement being repeated. A further object of the invention is to give the figures quick relative movements and have them pause or rest for a certain period of time between such movements. 30 ()ther objects of my particular improvements No. 44,959. Renewed April 22, 1929.

will appear hereinafter from the more complete description of the same.

I have illustrated types of my invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1, is a perspective view of an embodiment of my invention in a vehicular structure which is designed to be drawn along the ground.

big. 2, is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is an underside view of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

F e, shows a modified form of the invention, of non-vehicular form and in which a spring-motor is employed to actuate the figures,- the base of the structure being shown in vertical section.

Fig. 5, shows another modification of the invention in vehicular form and self-propelled by a spring-motor, the base of the structure being shown in vertical section.

Figs. 6 and '4', are detached views of the relatively movable figures and show details as hereinafter described.

F 8 and 9, show detached views of figures having a difi erent character or portraying a different subject from the figures shown in the other figures.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the structure of F 8, with dotted lines and arrows in dicating the path of movement of the movable figure in shifting its position.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the body or platform of a vehicle having axles 7, 7, provided with ground wheels 2, 2, which roll over the ground as the vehicle is drawn along by the pole 17. On the platform is arranged two figures 3 and at, representing those of horses, or the two figures may be considered as one figure which is made in lateral sections, as they are duplicates in shape and are juxtaposed side-by-side when at rest. The figure 4, is stationary, its feet being secured fast to the platform, while its mate 3, is constructed to swing through a circle around the fixed figure, and then reverse such movement. This movement is effected by means of an arbor 5, which is turned back and forth on its vertical axisby a pinion l6, secured thereto, the upper end of the ar bor being provided with a lateral extension or lug 8, which is attached to the hindfoot of the figure 3, so that the turning of the arbor will cause the figure .3, to sweep through a circle and change its position from one side of the fixed figure 41, to the other, and'back again, the path of said circular movement being indicated in dotted lines and by arrows in Fig. 1. The fore-foot of Fig. 3, is provided with an antifriction roller 6, W1 ich tracks over the platform and affords a smooth action.

The pinion 16, is given practically a full revolution intermittently, by means of a segmental rack 10, geared therewith, and carried by a lever 11, pivoted between its ends to the underside of the platform at 19. The other end of lever 11 carries a roller 12, which engages constantly the cam 13, such engagement being maintained by spring 11, secured to said lever and to a fixed point on the platform. The high part of the cam is arc-shaped and extends over about a halfcircle and as the cam is turned by the vertical shaft 15, the high part keeps the lever 11 at rest, likewise the rack and pinion and its arbor 5, so that during this period the movable figure remains at est beside the fixed one. When the rotation of the cam causes the low part thereof to be presented tothe engaged end of lever 11, the spring of the latter snaps or jerks the lever to the lowest part of the cam and thereby serves to move the rack 10, a sufiicient distance to give the engaged pinion 16, practically a full revolution and thus turn the arbor and throw back the figure 3, through its circular movement and so as to move it from one side of the fixed figure to the other. When this altered side-by-side relation hasbeen completed, the cam surface which rises gradually from the lowermost point to the high-part, now acting upon the end of lever 11, moves it quickly a sufficient distance to impart to the arbor 5, a complete backward turn and thereby swing the figure 8, back over its full path of movement and restore it to its first position.

The cam 13, is constantly turned in one direction by the motion of the adjacent forward ground-wheel 2, of the vehicle, through means of a crown-gear 9, secured to the wheel, a large gear 1%, which meshes therewith and is fixed on the shaft 15 so as to drive it. The detached Views in Figs. 6 and 7 show the relation of the rocking arbor 5, its pinion 16, which meshes with the rack 10, and the connection between the said arbor and the movable figure 3; Fig. 6, showing the movable figure and F 7 the fixed one.

In the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the same parts are shown as in Figs. 1 to 3, and 6 and 7, but instead of the drive-shaft 15, which turns the cam 13, being actuated from the ground-Wheel of the vehicle, the shaft is actuated by aspring-actuated motor 18, through means of a horizontal shaft 22, and a worm and worm wheel gearing 28, 2-1.- In Fi 4, the vehicular feature is absent, the platform 1, being arranged to rest on any suitable surface in stationary position, while the spring motor 18, causes the figures to go through their relative movements. In Fig. 5, the gearing 23 and 24, actuated by shaft 22, in addition to moving the figures, also effects the driving of the groundwheels 2. at the front of the vehicle, through the medium of bevel gears 25 and 25, the latter being fixed to the axle 7, of the vehicle. The spring-motor 18, is provided with the usual winding-key 17, and a pawl 20 and ratchet 19.

The two toy figures 3 and 4, in the Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, are made in the form of horses, alike in size and form so that when placed side-by-side they coincide throughout, but each is a different color from the other, the figure 3, having vertical lines thereon. while figure 1 has horizontal lines, in order to indicate the difierence in their appearance. When the two figures stand sideby-side and are viewed from either side, the figure exposed on such side has a certain appearance or color, but when the apparatus is operated and the shifting of the figures brought about they are completely transposed so as to entirely change their appearance. I also provide the figures each with a different appearance on its two opposite sides making four different appearances or dresses, and this adds to the variety of changes produced in the operation of the apparatus.

In Figs. 8 and 9, I show a modification in which the figures 3 and 4 are in the form a boy, instead of an animal, and the construction and operation of the apparatus is the same as that hereinabove described.

It will be observed that the cam which controls the relative movement of the figures, is given a slow movement so that-the high part of the cam will cause a comparatively long pause with the figures motionless and the low part of the cam will cause the figures likewise to dwell or remain at rest for quite a period of time, while the intermediate and precipitous 0r steep parts of the cam lying between the high and low, will produce a quick and snappy action of the movement of the figures. This intermittent motion of the figures is an important feature of the d vice, likewise the quick movement thereof and lends to the toy the element of surprise to the observer who will be puzzled as to how a complete change in the appearance-of the figures has been brought about, unless he happens to be looking at them at the moment the movement takes place.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a toy, independent figures having different appearances disposed side-by-side adjacent each other in substantial alinement and transposable with respect to one another to place them in the opposite side-by-side alinement and to then restore them in place, and mechanism operatively connected with said figures and actuating them to alter said positions and restore them.

2. In a toy, independent figures of different appearances or dresses arranged side-by-side in adjacent alinement partly concealing each other and transposable with respect to each other to rearrange said figures in the opposite side-by-side alinement, and means connected with said figures for effecting the transposition thereof to change the appearance of same.

3. In a toy, independent figures transposable with respect to each other and disposed adjacent each other substantially in lateral alinement partly screening each other and of different color or dress but substantially the same shape so that they assume a certain appearance in one relative positon but assume a difierent appearance in the other transposed position, and mechanism operatively connected with said figures and acting to change the relative alined positions of said figures to vary the appearance of the same.

l. In a toy, similarly shaped figures independent of each other and having difierent dresses and mounted to stand side-by-side in substantially alined positions partly concealing each other, and mechanism connected with said figures and serving to transpose them with respect to each other from one sideby-side alined position to the other opposite side-by-side position, thereby exposing a previously unexposed side of each figure.

5. In a toy, independent figures shaped substantially alike and having each side of a different decoration or dress so that there are four different looking sides, said figures being disposed side-by-side in close alinement with the opposing sides substantially obscuring each other and transposable with respect to each other to place them in the opposite sideb yside alinement, and mechanism operatively connected with said figures and operating to alter their side-by-side positons and to change them back again.

6. In a toy, independent figures differing in appearance and closely assembled side-byside in alinement and transferable with respect to each other to position them in opposite side-by-side relation, and mechanism connected with one figure of the assemblage and acting to transfer it to a new position beside the remaining part of the assemblage and change the appearance thereof and then to restore the transferred figure to its old position.

7. In a toy, a platform adapted to be moved over a surface, toy figures mounted on said platform and transposable with respect to each other, said figures being of diflerent character or appearance and closely assembled side-by-side in substantial alinement and adapted to be realined upon the opposite side of each other, means operatively connected with said figures for transposing them and said means being actuated by the travel of said platform to change the positions back and forth.

8. In a toy, a platform provided with wheels adapted to travel over a surface, figures mounted on said platform side-byside close together in substantial alinement and transposable with respect to each other to alter and restore their relative positions from one side to the other, means for efiecting the transportation of said figures and said means being operatively connected with ant rctuated by said wheels.

9. In a toy, a vehicle having figures mounted thereon in closely adjacent sideby- 'e alinement and being transposable to on them in opposite sided relation in sub i itial alinement, said vehicle being provided with a motor for driving the wheels thereof, means connected with and acting upon said figures to transpose them and restore them, said means being actuated by said vehicle wheels.

10. In a toy, a platform, figures mounted on said platform in lateral alinement and transposable with respect to each other so as to realine them upon opposite sides of each other, one of said figures being mounted to swing around the other and back again to effect said transposition, and means connected with and actuating said swinging figure.

11. In a toy, a platform provided with ground-wheels for moving over a surface, toy figures mounted on said platform close together side-by-side, one of said figures being adapted to be swung around the other from one side to the other, a rotating member connected with said swinging figure for swinging it back and forth, and connections between said member and the ground-wheels for effecting the back and forth movement of said member as the wheels travel over the surface.

12. In a toy, a vehicle provided with a platform, toy figures mounted on said platform and arranged close together side-byside. one of said figures being adapted to be swung from one side of the other figure around the same to the other side, a rotary arbor connected to said movable figure for moving it back and forth a pinion on said arbor for driving it, a segmental rack for driving the pinion, and means intermediate the wheels of said vehicle for intermittently actuating the rack.

13. In a toy, a vehicle provided with a platform, toy figures mounted on said platform and arranged close together side-b'y side, one of said figures being movable in a circle around the other and back again, a

rotary arbor connected with said movable figure for moving it back and forth, a pinion on said arbor, a segmental rack for driving said pinion, said rack being mounted on a pivoted arm, and a cam rotated by the turning of the wheels of said vehicle and periodically moving said pivoted arm to actuate the rack. V

14. In a toy, independent figures constructed and arranged to be grouped together so as to appear as practically one figure and transposable with respect to each other from one side to the other, and means operatively connected with said figures for effecting the relative movement of said figures and re-grouping them to cause them to appear as a different figure.

-15. In a toy, figures constructed and arranged to be grouped together to give the effect of a single figure of certain appearance and transposable with respect to each other from one side to the other and means for effecting the relative movement of said figures and re-grouping them and giving them the appearance of another figure, and spring-actuated means connected with said figures and acting thereon with a sudden and quick movement in changing the positions of the figures.

16. In a toy, figures substantially alike in general shape but having their sides of different character or appearance and disposed closely adjacent each other in substantial lateral alinement and transposable with respect to each other to change them to opposite lateral alinement, means connected with said figures for transposing them with respect to each other, and intermittently operating mehchanism for actuating said means periodically.

17 In a toy or the like, a composite object or figure changeable in appearance by the shifting and rearrangement of its composite parts and comprising relatively movable parts closely assembled substantially sideby-side and differing in their external ap pearances, and means for relatively moving said parts to change their relative assemblage to another side-by-side arrangement, whereby the appearance of the object or figure is changed.

Signed at borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this tenth day of July, A. D. 1925.

CLINTON It. \VILLIAMS. 

